Philips Sound Station is combination of functionality and flexibility

September 10, 2004
Combining the sound quality of a micro hi-fi shelf stereo system and the portability of a personal CD player, Philips has released the eXp3373.
The MP3-CD player is accompanied by the Sound Station, a docking station that functions as an amplifier with two external speakers, transforming the portable audio player into a stereo system equivalent in sound to a mini hi-fi in one easy click.

Its docking station also serves a dual latent function as a charger for the rechargeable batteries included with the 23mm slim-body audio player. The rechargeable batteries play for an average 10 hours of playback time from CD audio or 20 hours of MP3 or WMA music files.

Being fully portable means the need for skip-free capability, an important consideration when weighing up digital memory-stick media (like MP3 players) against CD drive-reading audio players. Philips is confident that its skip protection software will more than satisfy the needs of even the most demanding audiophile. The eXp3373 employs an Electronics Skip Protection (ESP) system which stores up to 45 seconds for CD, 100 seconds Magic ESP for MP3-CD and 200 seconds Magic ESP for WMA files.

The eXp3373 reads and plays CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs, including both 8cm and 12cm discs, which can hold over 10 hours of MP3 files or 20 hours of WMA music, making the need for efficient search functions all the more necessary. Designed with these requirements in mind, the device has an intelligent dot matrix LCD display and ID3 tag support which clearly shows the artist name, album and track titles on the face of the unit.

Its intelligent disc playback mode allows listeners to program up to 50 tracks and easily view and search through tracks and albums via the LCD display.

The eXp3373 is available now with a recommended retail price of AUD$249.00.

After Editing or Managing over 50 print publications primarily in the role of a Magazine Doctor, Mike embraced the internet full-time in 1995 and became a "start-up all-rounder" – quite a few start-ups later, he founded Gizmag in 2002. Now he can write again. All articles by Mike Hanlon